Percussion burglar-alarm



W. H. REIPF. Percussion Burglar-Alarm.

Patented Mar. 16,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WILLIAM H. REIFF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PERCUSSION BURGLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,534, dated March 16, 1880.

Application filed February 2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. REIFF, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Percussion Burglar'Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, cheap, and effective burglar-alarm; and the invention consists of a shell or block somewhat of the shape of an inverted balloon, and having a conically-shaped opening inits lower part, in which is fitted a correspondin gly-shaped plug having a stem on its upper part, which extends through or nearly through a hole in the upper part of the said shell. In the upper part of the stem of the plug is screwed a holder, provided with a ring or loop for the attachment of a cord, by which the device is suspended from a bar to be placed in the space over a door between the latter and the frame.

Between the lower part of the plug and the wall of the shell are placed thin paper detonating-caps, the same being held in position by screwing up the holder, so that when the device is freed from the sustaining-bar by the opening of the door the device will drop upon the floor with sufficient force to discharge the detonating paper cap and produce a loud report.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a representation of my invention as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the denoting shell and plug.

a is a shell or block of metal made somewhat in the form of an inverted balloon, and having a conically-shaped opening in the lower part. b is a plug fitted to the opening in the shell a, and having a cylindrical stem extending upward in a corresponding opening in the upper portion of the shell.

In the upper part of the stem of plug 12 is a cavity having a screw-thread, in which is fitted a screw on the end of the holder 0, as shown.

On the holder 0 is a shoulder or rim, m, resting on the edge of the opening in the upper end of the shell a, so'that by turning the holder 0 the plug 1) can be'drawn up tightly in the cavity of shell (1.. The detonating-cap cl (one or more) is placed between the plug and the inner wall of the shell, where it or they are safely and securely held by screwing up the holder 0.

ff represent a bar of thin metallic plate, made in two parts jointed together, as shown, for convenience of packing. The inner part of the bar fis turned back, as shown in dotted lines, so as to admit of its being inserted in the opening between the top of the door and the frame, and adapted to a wider or narrower opening, as the case may be.

If the opening is too narrow to admit of the insertion of the bent edge, the bar f may be turned end for end and the thin front edge inserted, and the detonating device he suspended at the bent end accordingly.

When in use the device is suspended from the barf, which is inserted over the door, as shown in Fig. 1, the detonating cap or caps 01 having been inserted, as before described.

In case the door should be opened, however slightly, the device will be released from the bar and drop upon the floor, the teat on the bottom of the plug first striking the floor. The concussion will cause the detonating-caps to explode with a loud report, especially if a number of the same are used.

The device, when loaded as described and the plug screwed tightly to retain the caps 01 in position, is always ready for use, and can be safely carried in the pocket or elsewhere by travelers.

The device can be readily attached to a door or transom or to a window in a moment without defacing the wood-work.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The shell a, constructed with a conically shaped opening, in which is fitted the conical plug 11, provided with a stem having an interior screw-thread, in combination with the screw-threaded holder 0, provided with the shoulder or rim m, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. REIFF.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, A. H. READ. 

